In this assignment I'm going to be helping young film makers learn and understand what a single camera production is (the shooting of a program with one camera, as apposed to using multiple cameras) and why production companies choose use them.
When creating a single camera production you only use one camera on location to produce the entire show, this is apposed to using a TV studio. Another reason that you might choose to use a single camera production is because of the expenses, it can cost a lot of money to use different types of camera and being a young film maker this may seem like the best option for you. Single camera productions are used to create dramas/comedies/horror due to enhancing the performance of the actors. Actors are able to build up towards their acting scenes and practise their emotions and lines and it also works better by putting pressure on the actor because then they will feel that they need to give their all and put everything into their performance because only one camera is on them. Also the actors won't have the camera on them all the time so they'll get breaks throughout the day so they won't seem tired during their shots.
A single camera production is a production that is filmed using one camera to get all the action. The shot can be changed by stopping the actors and moving the camera and starting the action again. This type of production is used to create a less cinema type effect within a program. This is suitable when the director wants the audience to feel more involved in the action, or watching it from a point of view of an actor. This can also help create a more relaxed atmosphere. A major benefit of using single camera techniques is that it is also much cheaper to do apposed to multiple camera techniques.
Location is also important because if your shooting in various places you may only be able to get a few cameras set up in the locations you want to choose, but if you only use one you will only get the footage you want in your shots. You need to be able to reshoot things again and again and make sure you get the perfect shots, you should get the camera in the actors face to get the emotion that they are showing. Their is less crew on a single camera production which is affordable it also gives a smaller crew more options.
For example The Inbetweeners is a single camera production. Single camera products appear more real to the audience, which makes them have a greater impact on them and also makes it easier for the audience to relate to what is going on in the screen. It's also more convenient as not all the crew needs to be present and awkward shots are easier to film.
Another single camera production example is The Vampire Dairies, TV Shows are single camera productions they maintain the audiences interest in shows such as this by using the 3 ACT Structure.
In ACT 1 - introducing the characters, we will find out who the protagonist is for this show, then setting the world that they all live in and we then see an inciting incident which sets the character off on their need/task.
ACT 2 - There are obstacles that the characters have to face to create the series to be interesting, throughout the series the obstacles will increase in threat. The characters then have their first solution which fails which means they are at their lowest ebb - mid point.
ACT 3 - The characters then find their final solution and then the characters reach their climax and overcome their biggest obstacle. This climax will only happen at the end of the series for the biggest obstacle they have had to face. Sometimes there will be a twist or a resolution this makes the audience want to carry on watching the next series because they will be hooked on the storyline.
The difference between single camera productions and multi camera productions are that multi camera use many different cameras. The cameras are set up in different places in order to gain a variety of shots, therefore cutting down the time taken to shoot. Reality shows such as Big Brother and I’m a Celeb, chat shows such as Loose Women, quiz shows such as The Cube, Football, and The News, Sports Events and Concerts are all multi camera productions. Also live programs such as The X-Factor and Strictly Come Dancing use the multi camera set up, as it means the audience can look at the program from different perspectives. The reason for using multi camera set up on Live shows is so the camera’s can be set up in place and ready for each shot, if these programmes were shot as single camera productions, it would make it much more difficult to keep the pace of the show, and the camera would change position each time it was moved.
Other shows such as Jeremy Kyle, although this is pre recorded, still use multi camera set up, this gives the viewer the different perspectives of the guests on the show, the host, and the studio audience reactions, it also saves time in the post production stage. Films such as Bring it On and High School Musical use multi camera set up, as in both films, we see a choreographed dance, shooting this single camera would not have the same impact as shooting multi camera. Both films would have been shot using a vision mixer, as there is a lot going on in the scenes.
Multi camera productions examples
Friends is a common multi camera production and the set up for this show is the typical set up for other multi camera sitcom's such as "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "That 70's Show".
With multi camera sitcoms will only be 'fixed' locations in the show. For example there will be a "front door" that leads into the living room from the right of the set, which will feed into a kitchen on the left side of the set. There's usually a flight of stairs directly behind the couch in the living room, etc. Also, practically every multicam sitcom will be utilizing a laugh track. You can see the generic conventions immediately.
Friends is a good example because this scene is set in Monica and Rachel's apartment, which is one of the shows most used sets as we see this in every episode. There is a front door that leads to the kitchen and the front room. They also use laughing tracks when a character has said something funny. But a downside to multi camera productions is that there is less control over the angles of various shots and there is obviously a more limited range of shooting locations so it has to be filmed on a simple set.
This is generally how a multi camera production is filmed...
The reason that Friends and other sitcoms chose multi camera productions is to save time, popular TV shows need to be filmed fast and it's an easier way to get every thing done in a short time.
Another multi-camera sitcom is "The Big Bang Theory"
We only see limited places in this show such as Sheldon's apartment and the apartment's that they live in such as the stairs, we also get to see where they work and a comic book shop. This makes it easier and less time to shoot, mostly and is using the generic conventions of a typical sitcom by having a limited number of sets filmed in an indoor soundstage. There defiantly has to be good writers on a show to be able to keep the audiences coming back and watching due to always seeing the characters in the same places, this might get boring for the audience and they want to see something new. The multi-camera sitcom is now recognising the value of a story mixed in with the joke. And also multi-camera sitcom's have an automatic invitation to make people laugh, which makes it much more accessible to everyone, which helps to gain a larger audience. By using psychographics we can tell that Mainstreamers would enjoy multi camera sitcoms because they want to know when the joke is coming. It's easier and more fun to watch.
Single camera production examples
A single camera production uses cameras that can get up in the actors face, the audience is able to feel what the characters are feeling by the camera movements and it's more free from the constraints of a multi camera setup. It's free range and is able to be allowed the freedom of movement. This allows more varied cinematography and creative expression since the camera isn't stuck in one spot in a generic sitcom set up. This can mean that the show can have more complicated sets and a much higher prevalence for exterior shots. Single camera sitcoms also rarely use a laugh track when a character says something funny. They are generally far more energetic/layered than a traditional sitcom, especially since the actors don't have to compete with a laugh track, or have to deal with the other limitations of a typical multi camera studio set.
Scrubs is an example of a single camera sitcom...
This single camera series features fast-paced screenplay, slapstick, and surreal moments presented mostly as the daydreams of the central character J.D. The benefits of Scrubs using a single camera production is that it makes the audience who are watching feel as though that they're apart of the action. This type of production makes it seem more realistic towards the audience. Plus it is also easier and cheaper as it uses less crew as you only have one camera. A disadvantage is that it can be time consuming as it covers all camera shots and angles and involves a lot of repeat filming of scenes in order to get the shot at different angles. It also means a lot of editing will be involved once filming is done, and this can cause problems with continuity.
But in many ways Scrubs conforms to the comedy sitcom genre, as it explores the relationships between a set of character’s and the comical events that occur as they live and work in a certain situation. There are a few aspects that Scrubs doesn’t conform with, for example there is no canned laughter after a joke which a lot of sitcoms use to emphasise the humour, which is done on a lot of multi camera sitcoms. Another way that Scrubs doesn’t conform is that the main character, JD narrates parts of the episodes to deeper go into the story and add another comedy aspect, not many sitcoms do this which makes Scrubs an unconventional sitcom.
Also Scrubs incorporates jump cuts to show changes in time. Sometimes however, a montage will be shown to show time going quickly; usually these montages will be humorous to conform to the sitcom genre.
Scrubs have used a single camera production throughout this series. And just one episode of Scrubs can take a week to edit. The editor has to film different shots in different places for example, the hospital, in the character’s homes or sometimes in the car park. They record all of these different scenes then edit them all together. Another feature of Scrubs is that one of the main characters, JD, often has flashbacks. That is another reason the show needs to be single camera production as these need to be edited in after filming. Scrubs use a lot of tracking shots. This shows two of the main characters, Elliot and Dr Cox walking down the hospital corridor. We know it is a tracking shot because the camera follows the actors around while talking which makes the scenes immersive and feel like they are really happening. This is also important as most of the time it helps the format of this particular show. In this particular scene it emphasises the character’s and does a lot to emphasise the humour.
The use of the tracking shot makes us feel like we are actually watching them walking down the corridor and having banter with each other. Through the dialogue, the scene shows the love/hate relationship between Dr. Cox and Elliot, the teasing, competitive nature of it with an underlying sense of affection.
In this scene, Dr. Cox sets Elliot up to walk into a pole. It is a good piece of slapstick comedy and the tracking shot is very effective in showing this. The comic timing of the dialogue when Dr. Cox says “look at me just a hair too long and this would happen” And Elliot trips over a wheelchair. Elliot then goes on to set Dr. Cox up in a similar way, enticing him into walking into a door. Again, the angle we view this action has a good comical impact.
Examples of different genres which use single camera techniques.
Genre - Sci Fi - Doctor who
Single camera techniques: Doctor Who has shown examples of single camera techniques used when The Doctor is having a conversation with his sidekick, Rose. This shows proof of the use of single camera techniques as there are edits of over the shoulder shots showing the conversation.
Sound: The sound includes lots of sound effects to help the scene match the sound (diegetic sounds), and there are use of sound tracks to emphasise emotions within the shot. e.g slow music for sad scenes and energetic music for fast/action packed scenes.
Lighting: The lighting included within Doctor Who is sometimes natural colours with background light for normal/outside frames to help set the scene. Although in action scenes there is use of more high key lighting within the mise-en-scene such as coloured lights, filler and back lights this creates a more bright/unrealistic space effect for the show to give the audience the illusion that they're really watching the characters in different dimensions, which appeals to its target audience of Sci-Fi.
Camera angles: The camera angles that were mostly used in a Sci-Fi drama using single camera techniques are long shots and high angled shots. This is so the drama fills the scene and all of the effects and action is shown in the frames.
Genre - Comedy - Miranda
Single camera techniques: Miranda shows use of single camera techniques because when the protagonist is making a joke, she talks directly at the audience to engage them in the programme. To signify that she is talking to the audience, the camera angles shift to show that she is jumping out of the context she is in, to talk to the audience. This effect uses editing and single camera techniques.
Sound: The sound effects that are used in the particular single camera production is the backing audience laughter put in when the protagonist does/says something funny. Most single camera productions don't use this and is mostly used in multi camera productions. The other sound that we hear is the characters voices that are included within the scenes (diegetic).
Lighting: The lighting used are typical background and key lighting to let the audience know that they are with the characters in the programme and the programme is not staged, the lighting seems realistic and makes the programme seem like realistic everyday life to the audience.
Camera angles: Most of the camera angles included are mid shots, to capture the motion and emotion of the characters, so they can fully understand what is going to happen.
Genre - Crime - CSI: Miami
Single camera techniques: CSI: Miami shows use of single camera techniques when it uses editing and takes in showing a surrounding environment in a crime scene. There are different camera angles and shots taken to show the surrounding of a scene and they are joined together using editing techniques to show the audience what is happening.
Sound: The sound used are natural diegetic sounds that are included within the scene and it included backing music tracks to create emphasis on the situation created. It includes dramatic music to build suspense and fast music to create excitement in action scenes.
Lighting: The lighting used is darker and mainly back and filler lights. This is because it will create tension and suspense, which is the type of emotion they wish to portray.
Camera angles: The camera angles used are close-ups and mid shots to show the emotion of the scene to the audience
Also Scrubs incorporates jump cuts to show changes in time. Sometimes however, a montage will be shown to show time going quickly; usually these montages will be humorous to conform to the sitcom genre.
Scrubs have used a single camera production throughout this series. And just one episode of Scrubs can take a week to edit. The editor has to film different shots in different places for example, the hospital, in the character’s homes or sometimes in the car park. They record all of these different scenes then edit them all together. Another feature of Scrubs is that one of the main characters, JD, often has flashbacks. That is another reason the show needs to be single camera production as these need to be edited in after filming. Scrubs use a lot of tracking shots. This shows two of the main characters, Elliot and Dr Cox walking down the hospital corridor. We know it is a tracking shot because the camera follows the actors around while talking which makes the scenes immersive and feel like they are really happening. This is also important as most of the time it helps the format of this particular show. In this particular scene it emphasises the character’s and does a lot to emphasise the humour.
The use of the tracking shot makes us feel like we are actually watching them walking down the corridor and having banter with each other. Through the dialogue, the scene shows the love/hate relationship between Dr. Cox and Elliot, the teasing, competitive nature of it with an underlying sense of affection.
In this scene, Dr. Cox sets Elliot up to walk into a pole. It is a good piece of slapstick comedy and the tracking shot is very effective in showing this. The comic timing of the dialogue when Dr. Cox says “look at me just a hair too long and this would happen” And Elliot trips over a wheelchair. Elliot then goes on to set Dr. Cox up in a similar way, enticing him into walking into a door. Again, the angle we view this action has a good comical impact.
Single camera techniques: Doctor Who has shown examples of single camera techniques used when The Doctor is having a conversation with his sidekick, Rose. This shows proof of the use of single camera techniques as there are edits of over the shoulder shots showing the conversation.
Sound: The sound includes lots of sound effects to help the scene match the sound (diegetic sounds), and there are use of sound tracks to emphasise emotions within the shot. e.g slow music for sad scenes and energetic music for fast/action packed scenes.
Lighting: The lighting included within Doctor Who is sometimes natural colours with background light for normal/outside frames to help set the scene. Although in action scenes there is use of more high key lighting within the mise-en-scene such as coloured lights, filler and back lights this creates a more bright/unrealistic space effect for the show to give the audience the illusion that they're really watching the characters in different dimensions, which appeals to its target audience of Sci-Fi.
Camera angles: The camera angles that were mostly used in a Sci-Fi drama using single camera techniques are long shots and high angled shots. This is so the drama fills the scene and all of the effects and action is shown in the frames.
Genre - Comedy - Miranda
Genre - Crime - CSI: Miami
Sound: The sound used are natural diegetic sounds that are included within the scene and it included backing music tracks to create emphasis on the situation created. It includes dramatic music to build suspense and fast music to create excitement in action scenes.
Lighting: The lighting used is darker and mainly back and filler lights. This is because it will create tension and suspense, which is the type of emotion they wish to portray.
Camera angles: The camera angles used are close-ups and mid shots to show the emotion of the scene to the audience
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